Luo Old Madam glanced at him, and at this time, Luo Rong Yan and Zhang-shi had also arrived in a hurry. Luo Old Madam faintly spoke, “The fault is that she wasn’t selfish enough, only thinking of being good to others and not good enough to herself, wanting to take care of everything on her own, do you all think these faults are enough, does she not deserve to be scolded?”
Luo Old Madam’s words made them all fall silent, each and everyone all with different expressions………….
“Enough, you all can just go back.” With that said, Luo Old Madam left ahead of them.
Have to say, Luo Old Madam’s words impacted them greatly. If these really were all of Jing Wan’s faults, then they perhaps were the cause that brought about these faults, because they didn’t do enough, Jing Wan had to do even more, and because they couldn’t help her, she thus had to shoulder everything herself. The most ashamed and unable to show his face was probably none other than Luo Rong Yan.
Li Hong Yuan, as usual, received ‘Wan Wan’s daily report’ that night. Speaking of which, the problems on Wan Wan, did Li Hong Yuan not notice? No, even if he wasn’t completely clear, he more or less still knew a little, just he didn’t mind all that much. After marrying, he can always let her get used to being good to herself, and get used to letting him come take care of anything for her. However, from the looks of it now, his way of thinking seemingly wasn’t good. He himself is able to forcibly suppress his jealousy, letting Wan Wan get engaged, then get unengaged, over and over again. Even if Wan Wan was different than others, she definitely would still be somewhat affected…………..
Logically speaking, based on Le Cheng Emperor’s level of indulgence towards Li Hong Yuan, him wanting to marry Jing Wan as his wangfei isn’t impossible. However, in reality, this really wasn’t the case. Li Hong Yuan was very clear, he actually wasn’t his old man’s favorite son, because his birth, his temperament, were actually all disliked by Le Cheng Emperor. But only by treating him this way can Le Cheng Emperor lighten the guilt and remorse in his heart, and it was precisely because of this mentality that led to his increasing indulgence. This was practically just a vicious cycle. And the most important point was that he can give the throne to any one of his brothers but all won’t give it to him. That’s why he wanted to compensate him, wanting to have the best of everything else besides the throne all given to him, including wife.
Regardless how outstanding Jing Wan was, regardless how important Jing Wan herself was to him, in the eyes of that esteemed Emperor, it was actually all worth nothing. If Li Hong Yuan said, he has taken a fancy to Jing Wan, Le Cheng Emperor definitely won’t obstruct him, whether it’d be as a concubine or a side consort, it all didn’t matter, but the position of main consort? Sorry, don’t even think about it. Just like Li Hong Yuan’s birth mother back then, after losing her status and family background, even if she was conferred up to the title of Imperial Noble Consort, Le Cheng Emperor still never once thought about having her supported onto the position of Empress.
In reality, in Le Cheng Emperor’s bones, the notion of rank (status) was very heavy. Moreover, he only acknowledges the methods he thinks are ‘good’, thus won’t care about what his son truly needs.
If Li Hong Yuan says, he won’t marry anyone but Jing Wan, nothing will happen to Li Hong Yuan, but Jing Wan will most likely die young. His usually frivolous son suddenly falling deep in love, if not Jing Wan’s fault, then it’s the Luo family’s fault, so the root of the problem ought to be eradicated.
As for whether Le Cheng Emperor had deep feelings for Imperial Noble Consort or not, it was certainly deep, but he has never thought of not marrying anyone but her before.
Because of these various factors, for the sake of marrying Jing Wan, Li Hong Yuan had to painstakingly go to great lengths with various calculations. Only when in the end there are no other options other than Jing Wan will Le Cheng Emperor finally accept this low status daughter-in-law.
In Li Hong Yuan’s original plans, letting Jing Wan shoulder a ‘husband cursing’ title was the best option. Towards Jing Wan herself, this won’t cause any harm, and a perfect match for his ‘wife cursing’ title. These two, both with ‘stiff’ eight characters[1] being together, won’t they just not get ‘cursed’ by one another. This is the most gentle way for him to achieve his goal, even though the aftermath brought about by this kind of method will be him nearly drowning to death in the vinegar jar. As for those that will be schemed by him to become Wan Wan’s fiancee, whether or not they were innocent had nothing to do with him. Despite having gotten some small advantages from Jing Wan, he was still willing to spare their little lives, this was already very benevolent.
Moreover, Chen Zheng Min and Sun Yi Lin already harbored immoral thoughts towards Jing Wan to begin with, so they weren’t innocent in the least.
In Li Hong Yuan’s plans, Jing Wan still had two more fiancees lined up. The candidates, he has already picked out. But, seeing Luo Pei Shan’s words on the report, he suddenly heartached. His repeated schemes will only let the burden on Wan Wan grow heavier, making her live unhappily. This wasn’t his original intention.
After falling silent, Li Hong Yuan slowly closed his eyes to cover up the madness in the bottom of his eyes.
After taking care of Sun Yi Lin, just let this matter be done with. Directly having Wan Wan pulled into his arms was safer, and he can also drink a little less vinegar. Otherwise, if by chance he were to go mad one day and do something insane, then it won’t be good. As for his old man, if he’s sensible, then it’s for the best, letting him sit on the position of Retired Emperor to live out the rest of his elderly years. If not, then hehe, he’ll just have to send him to go reunite with his Imperial Noble Consort sooner.
Because he heartached, that’s why, at the moment, Li Hong Yuan had Grandmaster Liao Chen’s warning all thrown into the gutter.
The power in his hand at present still wasn’t enough. Once the coup occurs, with the varying factions rigidly colliding head-on, the country will fall into turmoil, and the outer regions will undoubtedly invade. The people will fall into extreme distress. This was the same outcome as not having his wish fulfilled, and the level of tragedy will far surpass his past life.
A moment later, Li Hong Yuan finally continued reading, “Female emperor?” Li Hong Yuan helplessly smiled, “In that case, the Empress’s ambitions really aren’t worth mentioning. In the future, even if this prince is unable to let you sit on the throne, this prince will still let you enjoy the treatment of a female emperor.”
This was having her status of ‘national treasure’ raised even more.
Listening to his own master talking to himself, Eunuch Mu shivered, hating that he can’t immediately disappear. Because he knew too many secrets that he wasn’t suppose to know, he was in danger of being silenced by his master at all times. That’s why, he didn’t dare in the slightest have thoughts of ‘betraying his master’. Also, ‘female emperor’ and what not, Miss Luo wasn’t ordinarily frightening either.
When he finished reading the whole report, Li Hong Yuan fell silent for a moment, “An Yi, go ask whether Luo Pei Shan will be resting in the inner courtyard or front study tonight, this prince wants to meet him.” Since he has already come to a conclusion, having the most moderate plan changed into the most bloody method, then rather than letting Luo Pei Shan put in those futile efforts, one might as well directly have him brought into his own ranks, letting him concentrate on controlling Ministry of Appointments, saving him the trouble of struggling between Li Hong Yi and Li Hong Ming.
Those that followed by Li Hong Yuan’s side, not a single one was stupid. Once these words came out, they just knew he was going to have big movements.
Perhaps because after returning from court, he didn’t engage in proper work, after the evening meal, Luo Pei Shan just headed to the front study. It was already in the dead of night, yet he still haven’t gone to sleep. At this time, he was currently looking over the various relations between the various personnels of the Ministry of Appointments. Have to say, it really was tangled and complicated. Luo Pei Shan rather wasn’t apprehensive because of this, one reason being that the Ministry of Appointments was truly too important, with everyone all wanting to insert a foot, and secondly, Luo Pei Shan had long held ambition towards this position of Head Minister of Appointments, so towards the situation in the Ministry of Appointments, he’d long been observing in secret.
Under the candlelight, Luo Pei Shan lightly tapped against the tabletop, deeply pondering, starting from where will it let him take control of the Ministry of Appointments even quicker. The others were actually all easy to deal with, but the most troublesome was that Rui Qinwang held a temporarily position in the Ministry of Appointments. Although he didn’t have a specific post, his authority was truly not small, and moreover, he was a prince, a wangye. If he wants to do something, one simply can’t avoid.
“It’s already deep into the night, yet Sir Luo still hasn’t gone to rest. Such painstaking efforts, truly is my Qi Yuan’s good fortune.”
The sudden voice greatly startled Luo Pei Shan. Fortunately he didn’t have any heart problems, else he would’ve had a heart attack.
Seeing Li Hong Yuan boldly walking in from the shadows, Luo Pei Shan subconsciously clenched his fist. The Jin Qinwang at this time was one that he’d never seen before at any time in the past, and compared to Le Cheng Emperor, don’t know how much stronger his imposing aura of an emperor was. If not for that face, and that voice, Luo Pei Shan would’ve thought this was some Emperor similar to the Great Ancestor coming back to life again. Luo Pei Shan’s heart uncontrollably sped up. Originally, he thought that the current imperial court was already a fierce battle between dragons. In addition to Gong Qinwang, it can somewhat be considered a battle between three forces. How would he’ve imagined, there was also such a terrifying beast hibernating in the dark.
Luo Pei Shan slowly inhaled a breath, getting up and walking out from behind the desk, “This old subject greets wangye.”
“You’re excused.” Li Hong Yuan casually lifted his hand and sat down on a chair to the side.
Luo Pei Shan slightly hung his head, “Don’t know for what noble errand has wangye graced one with your esteemed presence for?”
“Sir Luo, why the need to ask something you already know the answer to.” In the faint light, Li Hong Yuan’s eyes were terrifyingly bright.
Luo Pei Shan sighed, “Wangye is truly impressive, to have actually hidden the truth from everyone.” This kind of Jin Qinwang, afraid, even his Majesty doesn’t know about. No matter which Emperor, none would tolerate a son that was even more like an emperor than oneself.
[1] This expression is hard to explain without getting into how traditional chinese fortune reading work, but the eight characters refer to a person’s eight birthdate characters, and having a ‘rigid’ or stiff characters sorta signifies a difficult fate. Again this is a very loose interpretation of the meaning, but given the context this is more or less what it means.
T/N: If you thought this was another story where ML and MC become Emperor and Empress, ohohoho you thought wrong, this is a story of ML making MC the Emperor. Anyways will reveal a little more about LHY’s special birth and his birth mother, shedding light to his complicated relationship with Le Cheng Emperor.
